The Bourbon Playbook | Podcast on RSS.com

The Bourbon Playbook

The Bourbon Playbook

by Ryan O'Leary and Mike Zika

Season 1 finale! Jimmy Russell Wears the Flavor Crown

🎤 ANNOUNCEMENT: This episode marks the end of Season 1! We’re shifting from weekly pours to monthly drops, seasoned with deeper dives, social surprises, and a few bonus pours along the way. It’s not goodbye. Just a refill break. We close Season 1 with Episode 35, and it's a barrel-aged banger: Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon. From meeting the legendary Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey to unpacking a pour that’s bold, spicy, and dripping with caramel swagger, this episode is a full-bodied salute to one of bourbon's true Godfathers.

The Stagecoach King: Ben Holladay’s Bottled-in-Bond Legacy

Ben Holladay 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond is a Missouri-made bourbon with deep roots, bold flavor — and a comeback story that spans 160 years. This week, the guys head down to the basement to discuss the "Stagecoach King," the limestone rickhouses of Weston, and why this sleeper bourbon continues to turn heads in the BiB world. Connect with the Bourbon Playbook at tbplaybook.com.

Old Fitzgerald: From Rickhouse Keys to Bourbon Legend

Join us as we reflect on our visit to the Heaven Hill Distillery and uncork one of the classiest bottled-in-bond bourbons in the game: Old Fitzgerald 7-Year. With its vintage decanter and rich wheated profile, this week's pour delivers caramel charm, cinnamon spice, and the fascinating legend of the man behind the juice: John E. Fitzgerald, Plus, some advice on how to transport your bourbon during times of extreme heat (spoiler alert, we learned the hard way). For more on The Bourbon Playbook Podcast, check out tbplaybook.com.

Not Your Average Wheater: Pouring Willett’s Purple Top Wonder

In this episode of The Bourbon Playbook, the guys cover their trip to the Willett Distillery, popping a precious bottle that screams top shelf. This week, we're talking Willett's Wheated 8 Year Purple Top. With its rich oak, cherry cola charm, and cinnamon-sweet punch, this bottle will be among the elite in any bourbon enthusiasts cabinet. In this episode: Why dining at The Bar at Willett is a must (and the signature dish you have to try) The history behind Willett's unique, smaller, family-run distillery Tasting notes breakdown: Is this a bourbon or a bakery? Essential 5 scale: Is Willett 8 Year P.J. Fleck approved? 📲 Visit TBPlaybook.com for recipes, ratings, and our latest trail pours. 👀 Next week: A softer sip with angelic baking spice? Stay tuned… Clink responsibly. Cheers! 🥃

Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series: Why We Fell for The Heart Release

We continue our Bourbon Trail Series with a stop in Loretto, Kentucky—home of red wax, rolling hills, and some of the smoothest bourbon magic you’ll ever sip. In this episode, the guys dive into Maker’s Mark’s 2024 Wood Finishing Series: The Heart Release, a silky, high-proof wheated bourbon designed as a tribute to the unsung heroes behind every barrel. Join us as The Bourbon Playbook breaks down its visit to the Maker’s campus (yes, the black-fence roads and cold rickhouses were as dreamy as you imagine), swap blind tasting notes from the 2024 and 2025 Wood Finishing Series, and share why the Maker's Mark Distillery tour is a must for any bourbon enthusiast who's hitting the trail. *** Support the pod by clicking subscribe, leaving a review and visiting tbplaybook.com.

Buffalo Trace Distillery & Eagle Rare 10

Fresh off their trip to Bourbon Country, the guys break down their visit to the iconic Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, sharing stories from the tour, the pours, and everything in between! In this week's episode: Top takeaways from the Trail, from Whiskey Row to Lexington How navigate Buffalo Trace's daily allocated bottle drops What bourbons (and other spirits) to expect in Buffalo Trace's tasting room History, tasting notes and E5 ratings for the Bourbon of the Week: Eagle Rare 10 Year Subscribe, share the pod with a friend, and be sure to check back next week for Part II of our Bourbon Trail Playbook series!

Ben Holladay or E.H. Taylor? Our First Blind Taste Showdown

On this week's minisode, the guys put their palates to the test with a blind tasting that brings bold flavors, wild guesses — and just a bit of humble pie. The lineup: Ben Holladay 7-Year Bottled-in-Bond E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Bottled in Bond Bardstown Bottled in Bond Origin Series Which unbiased bottle rises to the top? Join the show and share your own blind tasting notes and experiences at tbplaybook.com.

Trailheads & Tasting Rooms: Our Bourbon Trail 2025 Preview

Alright folks, pour one and buckle in — because this episode is all about bourbon bucket lists. We’re talkin’ about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Not from the perspective of seasoned veterans…. but from two guys who’ve never done it and are finally making the trip. Yep — it’s happening. We’re headed to bourbon country. And we’re coming in hot with a game plan, a cooler, and just enough hearsay to sound like we know what we’re doing. Are we doing it right? Drop us a dram at tbplaybook.com, and we'll share your Bourbon Trail experiences on a future episode of the pod!

Basil Hayden 10 Year: All Belt, No Bite?

This week on The Bourbon Playbook, we suit up for a sip that brings refinement without the roar—Basil Hayden 10 Year. It’s the bottle that shows up to the tailgate in a blazer, and we’re diving deep into whether that 80-proof polish hides enough oak and spice to win over even the proof chasers. Plus: 🥃 Whiskey history: Featuring Meredith Basil Hayden Sr.—bourbon’s original rye rebel. 📝 Tasting notes: Our honest verdict on whether Basil Hayden 10 Year is a daily dram or just Derby-day decor. 📈 Bourbon Reviews: Is BH10 hype or hogwash? 🎧 For more on the show, check out tbplaybook.com.

Woodford Batch Proof: Unfiltered Elegance at 121.2 Proof

On Episode 26 of The Bourbon Playbook, we crack open the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof (2023) and give it the full Playbook treatment. It’s bold, it’s rare—and it might just slap harder than your uncle at a family cookout. In this episode of the pod, we unpack: What makes Batch Proof different from your average small batch label NBA MVP race, media blind spots, and whether voters are even paying attention Is it worth $150? Real reviews tells if this batch is hype (or hogwash). Bourbon story time: How master distiller Chris Morris and rising star Elizabeth McCall put this fiery brown juice on the map MORE: Visit tbplaybook.com to learn more about the show, support the cause and connect with the hosts.

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